(Part 2)
It’s less than a week before the much awaited exhibition ALT Philippines 2020 opens to the public.
The Feb. 14-16 show is the pioneer collaborative project organized by 10 galleries in Metro Manila seeking to showcase new ways of presenting and experiencing art.
Last week, we featured Finale Art File, The Drawing Room, West Gallery, and Vinyl On Vinyl’s presentations in the upcoming exhibit (Different faces of Philippine contemporary art Part 1, published on Feb. 1). Each participating gallery’s dedicated space highlights their distinct contemporary visions.
Beyond expectations
Galleria Duemila’s “Carpe Diem: Beyond Seizing the Day” exhibition, curated by Angel Velasco Shaw, brings together 10 diverse artists who were challenged to further their process and practice in ways that are not considered to be predictable to any given audience.
For their participation to the Pasay City gallery’s showcase, Trek Valdizno, R.M de Leon, Leonard Aguinaldo, Jose Tence Ruiz, Cian Dayrit, Rocky Cajigan, Moreen Austria, Junjun Montelibano, Mervy Pueblo, and Josephine Turalba were given creative time and thought “to go beyond what people outside of themselves may expect of them, experiment in other realms outside of what they are familiar with, or use traditional materials/mediums in a different way than they are used to working in.”
Galleria Duemila—duemilla means 20th century in Italian—is the longest-running commercial gallery in the Philippines. It was founded in 1975 by Italian-born Silvana Ancellotti-Diaz.
Established meets emerging
Diversity of experience is highlighted in 1335Mabini’s presentation at ALT Philippines. The international gallery exhibits a dynamic range of works by both established and emerging artists, in accordance with the gallery’s commitment to artistic positions and practices, exploring mobility, history and critical engagement with the environment, collective memory, and politics.
Featured artists include Poklong Anading, Cian Dayrit, Soun Hong, Nikki Luna, Jill Paz, Dexter Sy, Mark Salvatus, Rinne Abrugena, Gus Albor, and Lizza May David.
A tribute to memory
Makati-based Underground art gallery turns the spotlight on one artist—Valerie Chua.
Known for espousing an interesting mix of aesthetic works, giving artists their due leeway to explore riskier ideas and concepts, the gallery presents Chua’s works which explore how individuals retain relevant information as they move across different landscapes. Objects of memory are exalted, preserved, or led to obsolesce according to how the present perceives its value.